DRYDEN, N.Y. – A near triple-double from tournament MVP Tyseem Lyles (Health Professions H.S./Brooklyn) led the Tompkins Cortland Community College men’s basketball team to an 87-66 win over Cayuga Community College in the Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship game Saturday. The Panthers, the #1 seed and tournament host, claimed the conference title for the second time in four years, defeating the defending champions in the championship game. TC3’s record with the win is 21-4, and the Panthers will now await a bid to the NJCAA Region III tournament. Seedings for the regional tournament will be announced Sunday.

The game opened with the two teams exchanging runs to get to a 7-7 tie. A pair of Brandon Reed (Corcoran H.S./Syracuse) baskets sparked a 6-0 run that put the Panthers in the lead for good. The margin hit ten at 24-14 midway through the half and continued to grow, capping when TC3 scored the final nine points of the half to head to the locker room up 45-24.

The second half opened where the first left off, with Jaanai Beckford (Northstar Christian Academy/Yonkers) hitting a three-pointer on the first possession of the half to increase the lead to 24. The Panthers continued to control the game the rest of the way, leading by 32 at the ten minute mark of the half, 72-40. The lead never dropped below 20 the rest of the way as the home team secured the title.

For the second straight game, ten different Panthers scored. Lyles finished a fantastic game with 21 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and one blocked shot. Devin Redden (St. Mary’s H.S./Buffalo) capped a great tournament with 16 points, four assists, two steals and two rebounds. Reed had ten points, Beckford had seven points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and Matt Warchocki (Owego Free Academy/Owego) had seven points.